NUS Monitors Orientation With Drones And Staff In Plain Clothes
The university isn’t playing games this year.
This time last year, the National University of Singapore (NUS) came under the spotlight of social media. Not for being Asia’s top university yet again, but for its controversial, and dare I say, allegedly, overtly sexual orientation camp games.
As both facebook campers and concerned parents alike gave the university flak for allowing students to organise and participate in such activities, NUS promptly took action against some 30 senior students. Some were suspended, others had to do community service of up to 100 hours and still, some others were fined up to $2,000. An Orientation Review Committee (ORC), consisting of faculty members, student leaders and alumni, was also created to better regulate orientation activities.
In keeping with last year’s efforts, new policing measures, albeit a little weird, were put in place this year. In June, two drones were used at two Engineering (of course) camps to monitor student behaviour as they participated in the usual orientation activities.
Imagine having a drone belonging to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) hover over you as you answer the question, “When was the last time you touched yourself?” in a game of ‘Truth Or Dare?’.
This had better be your answer unless you wanna be magically 'transferred' to NTU.
The drones were used on a trial basis in hopes that they would be able to replace in-person spot checks in the future. NUS also said that the drones were used for less than 10 minutes each time, and that student leaders consented to their use. Well, not that they could have said no.
On top of that, the university also kept a close eye on activities using actual eyes. OSA staff members dressed in plain clothes monitored students from a distance, stepping in only in the event of a serious incident or inappropriate act occurring. That is some next level shit.
This year’s camps also saw cheers and games being submitted for approval. Unsurprisingly, games like 'Burning Bridges' and 'Traffic Light' were banned, and in their place, students played games like 'R-O-C-K Rock' and 'The Fast Food Game' (whatever the hell this is - we're guessing it prepares us Arts students for our future jobs).
Meanwhile, secondary school boys are playing Soggy Biscuit.
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